Exercise machine with adjustable tension

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine has an exercise machine body, and the exercise machine body is combined with a soft pad, such that a user can put both knees onto the soft pad for abdominal or hip exercises. The exercise machine body has a base, an upper cover, an elastic line, a sliding set, an adjusting device and an adjusting screw.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise machine with adjustabletension, and more particularly to an exercise machine which can providedifferent levels of pulling force training for a user.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the quality of life improves, people are eating increasinglyunhealthy foods, which is leading to increased cholesterol levels,hypertension, heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. As thepace of life increases, people have less time to devote to sports andfitness, with the result the waistlines increase even as people becomemore listless. In view of this, given the need to conserve space andprovide convenience for the user, exercise equipment that can be easilystored when not in use is desired. An example of such equipment ispush/pull exercise machines.

Please refer to FIG. 8. A typical pulling exercise machine comprises twotubes 81 forming a frame 80, a separator 82 and divider 83 arerespectively disposed on two ends of the two tubes 81 to separate thetwo tubes 81 from each other. A sliding member 90 is installed betweenthe two tubes 81, and two rollers 91 are disposed in the sliding member90 and have a peripheral edge matching two tubes 81, such that the twotubes 81 secure the sliding member 90. The sliding member 90 further hasa shaft 92 for accepting two handles 93 at two sides. A soft padding 84and a supporting bar 85 are respectively installed at each end of thelower tube 81, and an elastic line 86 is hooked between the separator 82and the sliding member 90. In use, the user puts both of his or herknees on the soft padding 84 and holds the two handles 93 of the slidingmember 90 with both hands to move the sliding member 90 along the twotubes 81. With the tension provided by the elastic line 86, the user canexercise the hips and abdomen.

However, the tension of the elastic line 86 is not adjustable, and whenthe user wants to exercise using different tension strengths, he or shemust change the elastic line 86 or even buy a different exercisemachine, which can be expensive.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide the exercise machine withadjustable tension to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementionedproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide to an exercisemachine with adjustable tension.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives an improved exercisemachine has an exercise machine body, and the exercise machine body iscombined with a soft pad, such that a user can put both knees onto thesoft pad for abdominal or hip exercises. The exercise machine bodycomprises a base, an upper cover, an elastic line, a sliding set, anadjusting device and an adjusting screw. The soft pad has an impactabsorbing effect and is capable of being folded to reduce storage spacerequirements. The base comprises a platform. Two first sliding tracksare formed between two respective pairs of raised first stoppingsidewalls, which are respectively disposed on two sides of a top of theplatform such that a docking space is forming between the two firstsliding tracks. A first bar is pivoted to a rear section within thedocking space. Three protruding limiting edges are formed at a frontsection of each of the two stopping sidewalls in the docking space ofthe base, and each limiting edge is disposed a predetermined distancefrom the top of the platform to form an installation gap. A curved firststopping edge is disposed at a central position on a front face of thebase, and the first stopping edge on the front face of the base extendsupwardly to form a stopping slot. Two extended supporting pedestals arerespectively disposed at the front face and the rear face of the baseand lift up the base. The upper cover has two pairs of second stoppingsidewalls and two seconds sliding tracks corresponding to the firststopping sidewalls and the first sliding tracks of the base. The uppercover is configured to provide a gap between each first sliding trackand corresponding second sliding track when the upper cover covers thebase. A curved second stopping edge is disposed at a central position ona front face of the upper cover. The elastic line is an elastic wovenline or rubber elastic line, and two ends of the elastic line haveenlarged portions. The sliding set has a second bar, and the second barhas a jacketed handle at each end and a roller respectively adjacent toeach handle. The second bar, the rollers and the handles are separatedfrom each other to enable the rollers to slide along the track providedby the second stopping sidewalls. The adjusting device comprises abottom casing and a top cover. The bottom casing has a positioning slotwith a rear opening at a central position, a threaded aperture, such asan embodied nut corresponding to the positioning slot at a front end ofthe bottom casing for accepting the adjusting screw, two securing slotswith narrow openings respectively parallel with two sides of thepositioning slot, and an extended wing is respectively formed on twoside of a bottom face of the bottom casing. The adjusting screw has anextended portion and a threaded section, a knob at one end and astopping member at another end. The stopping member is a C-shaped hook.

In order to provide different tensions, the knob of the exercise machinein the embodiment of the present invention can be adjusted to rotate theadjusting screw; since the adjusting device is limited by the limitingedge and the extending wings, the rotational movement is converted intohorizontal movement which acts on the elastic line and changes itstension. When the adjusting device is moved forward, the distancebetween the adjusting device and the first bar is increased, whichstretches the elastic line and increases its tension; therefore, theuser needs to put more strength into pushing the sliding set. On theother hand, when the adjusting device is moved backward, the distancebetween the adjusting device and the first bar is shortened, whichlooses the elastic line and decreases its tension; therefore, the usercan push and pull the sliding set easier. Without changing the exercisemachine and the elastic line, the user can obtain different levels oftraining, which is very economical.

With the above-mention embodiment structure, the following benefits canbe obtained: 1. By rotating the adjusting screw to drive the adjustingdevice to move horizontally to change the tension providing by theexercise machine, the elastic line does not need to be changed, which issuitable for various training regimens. 2. The embodiment structure foran exercise machine is also simple, which is inexpensive and easy toassemble.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective detailed view of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates movement of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a prior art exercising machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

First, please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. An exercise machine has anexercise machine body, and the exercise machine body is combined with asoft pad 10, such that a user can put both knees onto the soft pad 10for abdominal or hip exercises. The exercise machine body comprises abase 20, an upper cover 30, an elastic line 40, a sliding set 50, anadjusting device 60 and an adjusting screw 70. The soft pad 10 has animpact absorbing effect and is capable of being folded to reduce storagespace requirements. The base 20 comprises a platform 21. Two firstsliding tracks 23 are formed between two respective pairs of raisedfirst stopping sidewalls 22, which are respectively disposed on twosides of a top of the platform 21 such that a docking space 24 isforming between the two first sliding tracks 23. A first bar 25 ispivoted to a rear section within the docking space 24. Three protrudinglimiting edges 26 are formed at a front section of each of the twostopping sidewalls 22 in the docking space 24 of the base 20, and eachlimiting edge 26 is disposed a predetermined distance from the top ofthe platform 21 to form an installation gap. A curved first stoppingedge 27 is disposed at a central position on a front face of the base20, and the first stopping edge 27 on the front face of the base 20extends upwardly to form a stopping slot. Two extended supportingpedestals 28 are respectively disposed at the front face and the rearface of the base 20 and lift up the base 20. The upper cover 30 has twopairs of second stopping sidewalls 31 and two seconds sliding tracks 32corresponding to the first stopping sidewalls 22 and the first slidingtracks 23 of the base 20. The upper cover 30 is configured to provide agap 33 between each first sliding track 22 and corresponding secondsliding track 31 when the upper cover 30 covers the base 20. A curvedsecond stopping edge 34 is disposed at a central position on a frontface of the upper cover 30. The elastic line 40 is an elastic woven lineor rubber elastic line, and two ends of the elastic line 40 haveenlarged portions. The sliding set 50 has a second bar 51, and thesecond bar 51 has a jacketed handle 53 at each end and a roller 52respectively adjacent to each handle 53. The second bar 51, the rollers52 and the handles 53 are separated from each other to enable therollers 52 to slide along the track provided by the second stoppingsidewalls 22, 31. The adjusting device 60 comprises a bottom casing 61and a top cover 62. The bottom casing 61 has a positioning slot 611 witha rear opening at a central position, a threaded aperture 612, such asan embodied nut corresponding to the positioning slot 611 at a front endof the bottom casing 61 for accepting the adjusting screw 70, twosecuring slots 613 with narrow openings respectively parallel with twosides of the positioning slot 611, and an extended wing 614 isrespectively formed on two side of a bottom face of the bottom casing61. The adjusting screw 70 has an extended portion 71 and a threadedsection 72, a knob 73 at one end and a stopping member 74 at anotherend. The stopping member 74 is a C-shaped hook.

For assembly of the embodiment, please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 5and FIG. 6. The bottom casing 61 utilizes the extending wings 614 toslide into the installation gap formed by the limiting edge 26 of thebase 20 and the top of the platform 21. With the interaction with thelimiting edge 26 and the extending wings 641, the bottom casing 61 iscapable of moving along the docking space 24 of the base 20. The slidingset 50 utilizes the roller 52 to engage with the sliding track 23. Thedocking space 24 accepts the second bar 51, and the handles 53 extendfrom two sides of the base 20 to position the sliding set 50. Theenlarged portion 41 at each end of the elastic line 40 is attached to arear end of each securing slot 613 on one side of the bottom casing 61,and each elastic line 40 is pulled to pass under the first bar 25 andthe second bar 51, wrap around first bar 25 and the second bar 51together, and then wrap the first bar 25 again to pass under the secondbar 51, such that the other end of each elastic line 40 is also attachedto the securing slot 613 at the other side of the bottom casing 61. Theadjusting screw 70 is disposed on the first stopping edge 27 of the base20 and engaged with the threaded section 72 and the threaded aperture612 of the bottom casing 61, and the stopping member 74 is installed atthe end of the adjusting screw 70 for defining a maximum stroke for theadjusting screw 70. The knob 73 of the adjusting screw 70 is disposed infront of the base 20. Further, the top cover 62 and the upper cover 30are separately displaced on the bottom casing 61 and the base 20 forsecuring the elastic line 40 and enclose the entire structure. Therespective gap 33 provides space for the handle 53.

In operation, the user puts both knees onto the soft pad 10 and holdsthe two handles 53 of the sliding set 50 with both hands to push andpull the sliding set 50. In order to push the sliding set 50, the userneeds to overcome the elastic strength of the elastic line 40,therefore, he or she needs to use his or her abdominal and waistlinemuscles. And, in order to pull back the sliding set 50, the user needsto lift up his or her hips. Since the roller 52, the elastic line 40,etc. and most other elements are enclosed in the base 20 and the uppercover 30, which prevents any external object from rolling in, and whenthe elastic line 40 is pulled back there is no danger of bounce backonto the user.

Please refer to FIG. 7. In order to provide different tensions, the knob73 can be adjusted to rotate the adjusting screw 70; since the adjustingdevice 60 is limited by the limiting edge 26 and the extending wings614, the rotational movement is converted into horizontal movement whichacts on the elastic line 40 and changes its tension. When the adjustingdevice 60 is moved forward, the distance between the adjusting device 60and the first bar 25 is increased, which stretches the elastic line 40and increases its tension; therefore, the user needs to put morestrength into pushing the sliding set 50. On the other hand, when theadjusting device 60 is moved backward, the distance between theadjusting device 60 and the first bar 25 is shortened, which looses theelastic line 40 and decreases its tension; therefore, the user can pushand pull the sliding set 50 easier. Without changing the exercisemachine and the elastic line 40, the user can obtain different levels oftraining, which is very economical.

With the above-mention embodiment structure, the following benefits canbe obtained: 1. By rotating the adjusting screw 70 to drive theadjusting device 60 to move horizontally to change the tension providingby the exercise machine, the elastic line 40 does not need to bechanged, which is suitable for various training regimens. 2. Theembodiment structure for an exercise machine is also simple, which isinexpensive and easy to assemble.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. An exercise machine with adjustable tension, the exercise machinecomprising an exercise machine body, the exercise machine bodycomprising a base, an upper cover, an elastic line, a sliding set, anadjusting device and an adjusting screw; wherein the base has aplatform, two first sliding tracks formed between two respective pairsof raised first stopping sidewalls on two sides of a top of the platformsuch that a docking space is forming between the two first slidingtracks; a first bar pivoted to a rear section of the docking space, theupper cover capable of covering the base to form a closed space; theupper cover having two pairs of second stopping sidewalls and twoseconds sliding tracks corresponding to the first stopping sidewalls andthe first sliding tracks of the base; wherein the upper cover isconfigured to provide a respective gap between each first sliding trackand corresponding second sliding track when the upper cover covers thebase; the sliding set having a second bar, and the second bar having ajacketed handle at each end and a roller respectively adjacent to thehandle; at least one protruding limiting edge respectively formed at afront section of the both stopping sidewalls in the docking space of thebase, each limiting edge disposed a predetermined distance from the topof the platform to form an installation gap; a curved first stoppingedge and a second stopping edge respectively disposed at a centralposition on a front face of the base and the upper cover; both ends ofthe elastic line line having an enlarged portion; the adjusting devicecomprising a bottom casing and a top cover; the bottom casing having apositioning slot with a rear opening at a center position, a threadedaperture corresponding to the positioning slot at a front end of thebottom casing for accepting the adjusting screw, two securing slots withnarrow openings respectively parallel with two sides of the positioningslot, and an extended wing respectively formed on two side of a bottomface of the bottom casing; the adjusting screw having a threadedsection, a knob at one end and a stopping member at another end; whereinwith the above mentioned structure, the bottom casing utilizes theextending wings to slide into the installation gap formed by thelimiting edge of the base and the top of the platform, with aninteraction with the limiting edge and the extending wings, the bottomcasing is capable of moving along the docking space of the base; thesliding set utilizing the roller to engage with the sliding track; thedocking space accepting the second bar and the handle extending from twosides of the base to position the sliding set; the enlarged portion ateach end of the elastic line line attached to a rear end of eachsecuring slot on one side of the bottom casing, and each elastic lineline pulled to respectively wrap around the first bar and the second barsuch that the other end of each elastic line line is also attached tothe securing slot at other side of the bottom casing; the adjustingscrew disposed on the first stopping edge of the base and engaged withthe threaded section and the threaded aperture of the bottom casing, andthe stopping member installed at the end of the adjusting screw fordefining a maximum stroke for the adjusting screw; the knob of theadjusting screw disposed in front of the base; the top cover and theupper cover separately displaced on the bottom casing and the base forsecuring the elastic line.
 2. The exercise machine with adjustabletension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exercise machine body furthercomprises a soft pad.
 3. The exercise machine with adjustable tension asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first stopping edge at the front face ofthe base extends upwardly to form a stopping slot.
 4. The exercisemachine with adjustable tension as claimed in claim 1, wherein twoextended supporting pedestals are respectively disposed at the frontface and the rear face of the base and lift up the base.
 5. The exercisemachine with adjustable tension as claimed in claim 1, wherein theelastic line line is an elastic woven line or rubber elastic line. 6.The exercise machine with adjustable tension as claimed in claim 1,wherein the threaded aperture of the bottom casing is a screw nut. 7.The exercise machine with adjustable tension as claimed in claim 1,wherein the adjusting screw has an extended portion and a threadedsection, and the knob is secured on to a freed end of the extendedportion.
 8. The exercise machine with adjustable tension as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the stopping member of the adjusting screw is aC-shaped hook.